I always tuned a tiny tiny bit low, then held the strings down across the top where you’re talking about, then slowly and carefully tightened them down. Then I used the fine tuners to adjust to perfect E. It’s not perfect and stupid that there was even a need to do that, but it always got the job done.

That retainer bar is so important to tuning issues. I lowered bars on 2 of my floyd strats and don't even lock the nut on either and they both have rock solid tuning. Great video

My 1993 MIJ Ibanez RG 470 had the same issues WITH the retainer bar and it drove me nuts. My teacher tightened the bar down a bit and then showed me the "bottom of the post" winding method and the problems were solved. Great video.

Brilliant Steve, you’re so right, that’s a massive flaw. Those machine timers at the bridge are so sensitive I can see how it can screw you and have them all the way up versus ideally having them in the middle. That’s insane. Still, great price on a guitar like this. I have always loved Jackson guitars. They sound sooo good.

Great video man! I've been doing this for years. More people need to know about intel like this.

It's a good tip! :) I got used to adjusting my tuning on my RG350 by tuning it a bit flat to compensate the effect of pushing the strings sharp when locking the nut. That works, too.

Could you just tune it a half step down before you lock the nut? Then you'll be in the ballpark as far as tuning goes when it's locked

I just learned something today!! I had a couple Jacksons with a floyd and every time I locked the nut It would go out of tune and now I know why!! I never thought of that! Awesome dude thanks for sharing 👍!!

Just about went insane last week when i changed strings on my dinky. So glad i saw this vid. Heading to Amazon to get a bar now. Thanks Steve!!

This is video is such a diamond of shared experience! Thank you for sharing this bit of knowledge!

Steve! Love your videos man. Just realized that for the past year and a half I had the top part of my Floyd Rose screwed in UPSIDE DOWN!!!! The close ups on this videos made me realize that! LOL

A bar doesnt belong on a jackson headstock, for me at least. A combination of downwinding on the posts and having low profile tuners helped me so far. At one point I even contemplated putting a thin washer on thd backside of the tuner to decrease its profile even more. But thats not a clean solution of course. Making a thicker headstock would certainly help to solve the problem, you hear me Jackson😉

Good info. Thanks for reinforcing a great fundamental that’s needed.

I've just bought a JS32 V and couldn't figure out why the pitch was changing every time I locked the nut. Brilliant video and very helpful. Gonna order those bars today cheers 🤘🏻

Thanks Steve! I can remember Looooong ago, the bar was Not an option, but a standard! But , those days are far Gonnnnne! Thanks Again!

Absolutely awesome. Thank you for sharing your tips ❤❤

Thank you for this idea. I just got my first neck-through guitar -- a Bullfighter Jackson Soloist lookalike -- and it's the first guitar I've owned both with a Floyd and without the retainer bar. Naturally, I had no idea that the lack of that bar would cause problems. I had heard about this winding technique used on guitars without locking nuts; this is the first I've seen of this technique used in this sort of situation. Brilliant!

I think you are the only good thing to come out of Boston in recent memory. Great video on a troubling condition to tilt-back headstocks with Floyds.

Nice, I'm going to try the string winding thing tonight, and get a bar soon. Thanks for this advice!

On my 1991 HM Strat Floyd Rose Lo Pro, I just tune each string about 5-10 cents flat before locking the nut down tight and bring them up to pitch with the fine tuners. I have the fine tuners loosened up quite a bit before hand so it also takes the rattle and slop out of them in the process. Then you have plenty of adjustment either way with the fine tuners after it's locked down.

Love watching you, bro. Your playing is fire, and you are fun as hell!

Hey Steve just wanna thank you man. I have Dean MAB4 guitar, great one but it doesn't have a bar from factory. I had just same issues like you bro, and i saw your video. I added a bar and tuning is spot on man. Thank you for this great tip man 🤘

Pixxy I have just stumbled upon this tuning issue. My Son now has one of these guitars and guess what, the tuning alters just as you say once the strings are clamped. And yep on E & A the tuning changes are huge. It had me really frustrated as I was fighting the guitar to stay in tune. Luckily a Google search of this problem had your cheerful face as the top result. I knew straight away I had an expert who could solve the problem🥰

This watching this video was the equivalent of a lightbulb going off. Thank you so much definitely going to try the different wrapping on my old Jackson rr3

Great observation. Thanks for the tip, Steve.

Thanks for the tip Steve. I am about to install a Floyd speed loader in my next build.

awesome those little details great channel steve from boston!

Thank you so much.Added one my firefly. Made a considerable difference.

I have this same guitar, same color and everything, and it is my first time dealing with a Floyd Rose. I've watched video after video of people telling me how to tune them with no real difference being made. Your video is the only one that talks about the tension gap like this. I look forward to messing with it! Great video, man!

I have really solid guitars with amazing japanese bridges (gotoh) and I just used them without the locking tuner for YEARS now. it stays in tune using locking tuners, but it always got me thinking. Today I decided to understand it and found your video, that was amazing. thank you very much!

That was a great explanation and demonstration Thank you

Thanks. I never knew the purpose of that bar. Changes everything.

right on great idea man. ill look at that issue with more detail now. seems simple should have known.

I noticed right away as compared to my jem Jr, it never had this issue so it was obvious why. And when you really hammer it and pull up until it nearly bottoms out like Vai, it really went out of tune even when locked because it had such gap. Your recording tone and mix is excellent by the way!

Did this today myself. Went to a luthier and he didn't want to do the job (never got asked before) and because the bar wasn't ideal. Was not the same as this one. Got a 55mm thinking it would be better. Had to tilt it a little in order to have enough spacing all around. So glad I did this!! Clamping the nut used to go from E to F.

Awesome information and thank you for sharing it.

Thank you so much for this video, now I know how to get a decent range with the floyd rose fine tuners. 👍

Awesome, great trick will definitely use it next restring

very true, Steve , helpful tip. I was investigated it for so long then realizad after many tries :) great explanation too

Good advice! The high E string on my Jackson is very, very close to the edge of the headstock, if not inline with the very edge. I was considering a floyde Rose 1000 to get better tunning stability! Hopefully this does the job. Thank you!

That's brilliant! Will need to check my guitar with the locking trem for the break angle.

Thanks Steve as always good info.

That’s totally awesome you thought of that! Very happy you did it on a Jackson cause this should apply to all jackson guitars cause the headstock are all the same

Totally agree with this video -- I discovered this same thing a few months ago!!!

Thanks a lot Steve, nice trick! Cheers from El Salvador.

Just got a JS32 Kelly. This is a great tip, gonna try it...Thank you!!

I got your tip, your link, and your instructions. Thanks brother. Just gotta decide on which Jackson.

Great tip!! Thanks a lot.

My randy rhoads is a JS32. The first time I changed the strings in it, I went to make a spring adjustment and the whole bridge fell out. I eventually got it in tune but the bridge wasn't level. I got in touch with a luthier I know but he was going on holidays at the time so, after some procrastination, I had a go at a proper setup myself using a youtube video as my guide. It took me a couple of days because a string broke near the end of the process so I started from scratch with another new strings set the next day. Anyway, after all that, I didn't have to do a thing to the intonation because it was still spot on and it holds its tuning very well even after playing Slayer songs with lots of whammy bar use. I didn't put a retaining bar on the headstock. More of a version of your no tools solution but not quite going to the base of the tuning peg. Didn't have the issue of it going sharp after locking. I was able to set my fine tuners halfway before locking the nut and didn't need much fine tuning.

My 91 Jackson Rhoads and my 96 Jackson Kelly have the right break angle. I believe something changed recently. Good fix man 👍 I have seen guitars with that type of string retainer that are not set up properly.

Wicked cool point! Thanks

Nice tip. Thank you!

Thank you. I hope I get a JS32Q soon because I just bought the bars in your link. 👍

this is very good information, thanks a lot

Thanks for the tip..Planning to buy that gear..with such minimal issue to work with..🤘

I always fill my tuning post full with string always helped with tuning stability. One of the first things I installed on my Kramer Dave Sabo signature model was a string tree and installed a Fu-Tone brass big block and Titanium saddle blocks and screws. Everytime I put new stings on it's super easy and always stays in tune. Same with my old original Kramer Nightswan as well. Even my old Hamer Californian is set up the same way. It's honestly a no brainer. Even if your not comfortable doing that to a guitar, it's cheap to have done by a tech. It's great, all you have to worry about is playing and not fighting with your guitar!

I have a nice custom strat type with this very issue...it's like i have to tune it flat for it to come up to pitch. PITA. Beautiful playing guitar. I have suspected the lack of this bar was the issue and this confirms it.

The info I needed. Thx! 👍

YES! those two things i've been using for a couple of years that i'm playing my floyd rose guitar

I always preferred the Kahler lock nut, has a built-in retainer to keep the strings down on the nut

i changed mine with the new kahler that has the build in string guide angle thing,way better locking nuts than a floyd type out there...they got it right this time

Steve, I’d reallyyyyyy like to see you review these new Inspired by Gibson ‘61 Les Paul SGs. I just played one for the first time and was absolutely floored. Unreal value for the money

Thanx bro needed tht!!🤘

I have a Jackson JS22 and love it but looking to upgrade to a higher Jackson next year, hopefully the company sees this video and rectifies the problem.

Great tip Steve 👍🏾

I got this guitar (White) used on Guitar Center based on your video for $255. Thanks! I also bought the bar for the nut based on what you said earlier.

I'm for adding a couple wraps all the way on down to the bottom of the post. That's how I've always done it. Then when a string breaks at the bridge, where they always break, you can reel off some string and replant it into the bridge.

Nice work Steve

Thanks Steve!

Yeah my BC rich was like that with no bar and i never could figure it out when i was a kid. Everytime i locked the nut it went far out of tune and the fine tuners could never get it close enough. That guitar is broken now and since then i stuck with straight bridges. I plan on getting another guitar with a floyd in the near future though, so this is good info!

Very useful thanx!

That’s an excellent tip thanks.

G'day, great tip! cheers mate

great help , Steve

Man! That Jackson is sick! That color pops!

Most of my Floyd Rose equipped guitars have the bar but a few don't. I usually just tune them down 1/2 a step and tightening down the nut brings them close. I never thought about winding the post differently though. I think I'll try cutting the strings a little longer to get more wraps.

Excellent video. Blessings.

Yo that close up "end zone pylon camera" on the headstock is great...after further review....string retainer bar is needed....

I got the 22 was going to get the 32 but got a used king v for $350 and very happy with my choice,thanks for the video too

I have a Jackson MJ Soloist with no bar and all the strings except the high e sit perfectly in the nut before it is clamped. It hasn’t caused me any tuning issues so I guess I got lucky or the headstock angle and tuner post height is just right. Anyway, great video, thanks for putting this out here.

EXCELLENT, thanks a lot...! 👍🏻

Thanks Steve! It's a good trick! In my experience there are exceptions where it doesn't work, though. I guess on 90% of the guitars you will be fine, but on my Strat copy it's just not enough, the tension bar would be the real deal, but on this one the 6th tuner is just too close to the nut, it would interfere with truss rod access, so I think I will install a 3rd string tree for the 5th and 6th strings, out of the way of the truss rod access. So that could be a 3rd trick, a carefully placed 3rd string tree. Question: In your experience, what is the largest string gauge that can be used with a locking nut when the original screws are used? I'm thinking about the realm of baritone guitars and the so called bass-baritones, a Bass VI could benefit a lot from having a locking nut, but the lowest string would be .080+ gauge.

Excellent tips Steve! PS: Love your guitar sound !!! Cheers!

I use a strong capo just where the retainer would be to put downward pressure on guitars with no retainer, this way it doesnt go sharp when you lock the nut clamps.

Hey Steve, that's one advantage of headless guitars I suppose. The old Steinberger GM model line is amazing. It would be interesting to see you reviewing a headless guitar.

Nice job with the addition of that string tree.

I had a jackson explorer and like you said is already on tune and after the locking nut is tighten is goes sharp

I added the same retainer bar to both my jackson dinky with floyd and king v with floyd. They should really include that. Just bought a used js22 in blue just like yours!

Damn,I love that guitar Steve.Purple is my favorite color!That deep purple's waycool.Once again my friend,thanks for the knowledge.

Multiple guitars have this problem, I wish they would go with a straight headstock and add the 1$ stringbar... I usually remove the trussrod cover, redill the stringbar and use the 2 screw holes from the trussrod cover, this way I do not have to drill the headstock and can remove the stringbar to restore factory settings.

I had to have one added, too, nice to see this so I know I'm not crazy. : )

That’s also why having the proper amount of string winds going down the tuner post is crucial. These days people only wrap 1 or 2 wraps

Thnx for the headsup

Not sure if you mentioned it, but locking tuners may also help since they have shorter posts. Seems redundant with the clamp but makes string changes faster too.

This is why SFB rocks 🤘🤘

Damn good stuff!🔥

Love that purple!!

OMG... Thank you so much

That will be forever useful information

Thanks good tip